Obama Eviscerates GOP’s ‘Trojan Horse’ Budget Plan

Tags

Amplifying the populist message he hopes will carry him through election day, President Barack Obama on Tuesday launched a ferocious assault on Republican Congressman Paul Ryan’s budget plan, warning it was a “Trojan Horse” that would put middle class prosperity out of reach for millions of Americans.

Speaking to the annual luncheon of Associated Press editors and publishers in Washington, the president called out Republican leaders by name for embracing a fiscal blueprint that would cut taxes for the rich, slash social programs, and leave many without a viable path to upward economic mobility.

“Disguised as a deficit reduction plan, it’s really an attempt to impose a radical vision on our country,” Obama said of the Ryan plan. “It’s nothing but thinly veiled social Darwinism.”

He reiterated his call for the “Buffett Rule,” so named for Nebraska investor Warren Buffett, to ensure that wealthy Americans deriving their income chiefly from investments pay at least 30 percent in taxes.

Comparing it to the platform Republicans campaigned on in 1994 when they won control of Congress for the first time in decades, Obama said Ryan’s proposal “makes the Contract with America look like the New Deal.” He decried the lack of moderation in the opposition, and singled out Mitt Romney for special criticism, mocking the former Massachusetts governor’s hokey choice of words.

“He even called it ‘marvelous,’ which is a word you don’t often hear when it comes to describing a budget,” Obama said. “It’s a word you don’t often hear generally.”

Obama found “Trojan Horse” an apt descriptor because Ryan’s proposal has the sheer of bipartisanship (one Democratic senator has embraced its Medicare privatization scheme, even if ten House Republicans voted against the budget last week) and Ryan has a reputation as a “serious” budget guru. It is certain to go nowhere in the Senate, controlled by Democrats, but the president wants it to remain in the discussion as a bludgeon with which to whack Romney as an extremist, not a “Massachusetts moderate,” as Newt Gingrich loves to call him.

We should not be surprised if we keep hearing this line of attack all the way until November. Long after the budget proposal is dead on Capitol Hill, Obama will use it — the only GOP plan with specific budget cuts to popular programs — to taint Romney, much the way Bill Clinton’s re-election campaign used Newt Gingrich and his extremism against Bob Dole in 1996.

98 responses to “Obama Eviscerates GOP’s ‘Trojan Horse’ Budget Plan”

Yesterday, Mitt Romney commended himself for having to ‘courage’ to call out the President, for being ‘ineffective’. Romney, it must be mentioned, left out a host of other information – namely, it was/is his own party which is responsible for the very ‘ineffeciency’ the President is suffering from. To his credit, the President was ‘FAIR’, using Conservatives policies, w/a bit of tinkering, thinking it would placate Republicans to want to work in conjunction, in order to end the Republican Recession of 2008. To his discredit, however, he used Conservatives policies, which simply DO NOT WORK in real-world situations. Knowing this makes the job of shifting to the President Clinton-style initiatives, which proved to beneficial to the whole of the American public (private-sectors as well). His speeches would go over much better if including these aforementioned details as well…

that is incorrect. all he does is blame the other side for nothing getting done. a leader leads and i’m sorry but thank god for them saying no his policies are terrible. instead of investing on things that work he keeps investing in “green energy” programs (solyndrol) that don’t work. his economic policies MAKE NO SENSE as the reason our country worked so well for 200+ years is the interdepensdency relationship between the people with money(aka job creators) and the people who need money(employees). now were there some “Bad people” who took advantage at wall street during the collapse sure why weren’t they prosecuted? who knows but to generalize all rich americans as bad crazy talk. guess what i’m not rich but you need someone who has more money than to have a job. they need you to perform the services their company needs. work together not against.. BAD BAD advice from the pres. americans need jobs and i can assure you raising taxes on companies takes away money to hire. if you want to get rid of some loopholes in the tax code thats fine but we aleady have the highest corporate tax rate in the world. man i would love to debate you rustacus21

John y… if you have noticed, rustacus likes these long winded, winding diatribes laced with talking points in run on sentences. It’s actually funny to read the mental gymnastics he/she has to go through to sould like he knows what he’s talking about when he concludes the Constitution supports his socialist ideals when NOTHING could be further from the truth. Welcome to the fray. Enjoy the fight. I’ve been here about a month, engaged in battle daily. Keep up the good work of spreading common sense in a sea of stupidity at The Memo.

Money doesn’t make jobs, ideas make jobs. Those without money and have ideas are robbed from with them, as these money guys get to own majority share, why? because of risk? BS! Rustacus is a smart dude he’d tear you apart

B/c he happens to be ‘CORRECT’? In blaming Conservatives for standing in the way of any policy, initiative or ‘IDEA’ even, that hasn’t been tried yet? We’ve already tried it the Conservative Republican way!!! It doesn’t WORK!!! Don’t U get it ~ BY NOW?!?! President Obama’s economic policies are the same as the previous administrations’. That in itself should tell U all U need to know. The tax cuts are still in place. We’re borrowing money to pay for those tax cuts. & U’r rite – it doesn’t make sense!!! We are HERE b/c of the Conservative administration in office from 2001-2009! This isn’t Clinton’s policies 4sure!!! My question is, why didn’t/doesn’t he? & do it like Clinton & ROLL STRAIGHT OVER REPUBLICANS WHO DON’T WANT TO WORK W/HIM!!! By the way – THEY aren’t OUR leaders!!! That’s what’s wrong w/American thinking about politics – THEY’RE OUR REPRESENTATIVES. Obligated to do OUR BIDDING!!! B/c there’s Conservatives in substantial numbers, guess who not listening – as we say end the tax cuts (in a 80%/30% majority)? Prez Obama has been hostage to obstructions (READ the history of the last 3 yrs for PROOF – DON’T JUST ACCUSE – give FACTS!!! I have mine by the way), fillibusters & foot-dragging. On Jan 21, 2009, the Conservative mission was to make him a 1-termer & how might that be accomplished? Standing in the way – ALL THE WAY… But I agree – THIS Prez could have done better – following the Clinton model, than that of Conservatives. I’ll concede U that…

john y wrote, in response to rustacus21: that is incorrect. all he does is blame the other side for nothing getting done. a leader leads and i’m sorry but thank god for them saying no his policies are terrible. instead of investing on things that work he keeps investing in “green energy” programs (solyndrol) that don’t work. his economic policies MAKE NO SENSE as the reason our country worked so well for 200+ years is the interdepensdency relationship between the people with money(aka job creators) and the people who need money(employees). now were there some “Bad people” who took advantage at wall street during the collapse sure why weren’t they prosecuted? who knows but to generalize all rich americans as bad crazy talk. guess what i’m not rich but you need someone who has more money than to have a job. they need you to perform the services their company needs. work together not against.. BAD BAD advice from the pres. americans need jobs and i can assure you raising taxes on companies takes away money to hire. if you want to get rid of some loopholes in the tax code thats fine but we aleady have the highest corporate tax rate in the world. man i would love to debate you rustacus21 Link to comment

Rausticus21…. Yesterday I asked you to consider running for President after President Obama finishes his 2nd term. I truly hope you’ll give it serious thought… I can see by today’s postings that Bozo didn’t suck his tube of Prep H & like I figured he didn’t share with his buddies. Keep up the good fight as so many of us real Americans appreciate your fair way of thinking.

Romney can talk until he’s blue in the face, but he still ain’t gonna be President of the USA! I am astounded that this carpetbagger has kidded the American public for so long. He’s not a Latter Day Saint -He’s a Latter Day loser. Lucky underpants and all!

The only people he is fooling at the moment are Republicans, and even they are not so happy with him. It a sad day for the Republican party when he is their best choice for a Presidential candidate. I am looking forward to him explaining his multiple houses, cars and overseas bank accounts to the “real” Americans, those of us who belong to the 99%.

How dare he pay 14% taxes when I pay over 30%, and he has 50 times my income? How dare he put dozens of companies out of business at Bain, losing many thousands of jobs, just so he could pick up 10’s of millions on commissions for a few days work? How dare he be a warmonger when he dodged the draft and none of his 5 sons have served? Robme (sic) is a taker, not a giver, and he would be right at home in a (formerly) communist country, where he could wheel and deal at the expense of the people.

You dont pay anywhere near 30%, you liar! If you do, you’re dumb. Who cares what someone else earns or has? Really….. WHO GIVES A FLYIN CRAP WHAT ANYONE ELSE EARNS???? Only you leftist nutjobs do. Somehow, you idiots that buy off on this 1% vs. 99% LIE are so succeptable to this class warfare nonsense that it borders on pathetic. It really does. What business is it of yours what anyone else earns?

And your comments about putting companies out of business so he can make money really points out what a complete and stupid moron you are. Hey IDIOT!!!! The last time I checked, companies that remain in business and make profits are usually more profitable than ones that go out of business!!!! HELLLLLOOOOOO!!!!! MCFLY….. IS ANYONE IN THERE???????? And the way Private Equity guys work is to buy distressed businesses and try to turn them around. It doesnt always work, but many times it does. And in the process 10s of thousands of jobs are created, or others are thankful they get to keep their jobs for a while longer with a fresh infusion of capital. This is a reality of capitalism, you dope! It doesnt work any other way, unless you have capitalists with capital to fund businesses. You may not like it because your a leftist useful idiot, but your like or dislike does not affect reality. Too bad for you!

Buying companies, leveraging those assets with debt, then giving bonuses with that money, and finally letting that new debt default as the company goes out of business does hurt other people. I’ve tried to tell you the economy isn’t flexible to be void of the rich’s corruption but then you switch to the next artical. Whatever have a nice day

As a matter of fact, yes. In commie countries only the political class and well connected are well off. All the people are dirt poor. Which makes me wonder why leftists in America support socialist policies that are based on the same Marxist principles of income redistribution. And why they are so anti-capitalism? Go figure.

This is completely fictiitious statement as is the one that is in response to this. Communist countries are ruled by a sense of community, progress, and decisions that are unwavered by the benefits of the individual, but of the whole. When private ownership is non-existant there are no lobbyists, and no saboteurs only frail countries that had apopted the principle and has given it a bad name, and well corrupt politicians. True marxism has nothing to do with income distribution either, merely a sense of value, instead of falsation of value dictated by a free market that works with exclusively with non-tangibles<-not real value. You work you eat isn't radiacal it is by definition the right to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Communism with elections would embarrass the piss out of capitalism.

Hi Drew. I hope you are well. In response to your above, I think you may be right about how free and wonderful communism is for people…. in fairly tale leftist world, that is. The trouble with you leftists is that you continue to believe the lie that communism has never worked but that it can work if only implimented correctly. We have all of history to prove this wrong. Your University professors have build this house of cards in your mind and have poisoned you. The only accuracy of your statement is that the individual is subjugated to the interests of the “greater good”. Therein lies the problem with communism and is the reason why it never works. Ultimately, it’s politicians that decide what is and what is not in the common interests, right? And those politicians that have power will always decide what’s in the common interests just so happens to coincide with that which is in THEIR personal interests. This is human nature and you cannot change it. Finally, I’d bet you the entire state of Texas that if given free will, communism would be soundly defeated in every single election against individual freedom and liberty everywhere. Guaranteed slam dunk!

I’ve been great got a new analyst job just shy of 6 figures. But true communism is great in a non-existant world but it doesn’t have to be the case. Authoritative communism is the only thing that has been tried and Castro and Stalin can’t be the representatives of Marx’s idea it just wouldn’t be fair. If you pick a country that has resources then we’d be able to see real communism in practice instead of fascism rousing to be communism. But you say it has been proved ineffective I ask where? I was a business student and so my profs were all free market slaves (ALL) and I developed my own ideas and am never a slave to what I’m told until I recieve enough information to make an informed decision. I may humor ideas but only because it is impossible to come to an informed decision without the willingness to accept principles as potential facts, don’t appreciate the assessment that I am so easily manipulated. But your argument is flawed communism with a representative democracy can be pushed into the same checks and balances (not perfect) that we have now, Carl Marx never said anything contrary to this idea. The difference will be simple though society will create the goods for the country, and the government will decide on the compensation, so just like the free market you will strive to show the government that you are worth your salary, but there will be a system with a comprehensable sense of value of work, unlike what we have currently, this also means our exports will almost assuredly exceed our imports, allowing for 0 unemployement and 0 underemployment. Personal interests will never come into play as long as we don’t appoint a leader for life, including our judges. I’d also take your bet, but I’d probably have to kick out all the Texans when I win, don’t see the need for all those gun toters. You underestimate the everyday man. Long Term Orientation is the will of the majority of people not this quick buck agenda only true to time value of money finance individuals. have a good weekened and don’t be too mean to the Leftist Saintjobs.

Hi Drew. Congrats on the new job! Keep working for your own self interest. And since you are young, save at least 10%, better 15% of your earnings. Invest in world dominating companies that pay growing dividends and ignore the market except when the world is coming to an end. Then buy more. You’ll wake up in 40 years wealthy.

Re: communism. Have you ever wondered why communism and authoritarianism go hand in hand? Think about it. The reason why is because most of the people would never want it. It MUST be forced upon them. While your fairly tale sounds nice, the reality of the government deciding a person’s worth, and not individuals, is that the government is made up of individual people. And those idividual people will ALWAYS decide in their own personal interests according to their own personal thoughts and beliefs. There is corruption in ALL government, but I can assure you that in communist government, where control of the people is required, corruption is pervasive from top to bottom and the concept of equality is just pretty packaging placed around a box of tyrannical sheet! Living under communism is a miserable existence. Did all the West Germans try to break into East Germany? NO. Other way around. Are the North Koreans better off than the South Koreans? NO! They are starving. When someone leaves America, do they call it “escaping”? NO! When someone leaves former USSR or current North Korea, why did/do they call it “escaping”? BECAUSE COMMUNISM IS LIKE A PRISON!!!! That’s why!

It really puzzles me how you leftists cannot see the consequences of your belief system in action right in front of you. When the government controls outcomes, when the government controls resources, when the government takes from one to give to another, the natural incentive system for a man to work for himself is slowly destroyed. And there is NO incentive for efficient utilization of resources. The only real incentives are for those in power to use the rest of the people for THEIR own self interests.

Your fairy tale futher falls short with the concept of democracy. Democracy, by definition, is people voting in their own self interest. Now, you can point to the socialist democracies of Europe. American lefties always do this. But they are bankrupting themselves. The problem with socialism is that sooner or later, you run out of other people’s money to spend. Europe is on that track.

And I’ll keep TX and all the guns. Those guns are our defense against the next authoritarian tyrant that tries to take over here. The founders knew it and that’s why they put it in the second ammendment.

AH! no you’re just wrong. And there is nothing wrong with that. Facsism doesn’t equal communism. There’s severe problems with N.Korea there president has been dead for decades now. And Russia, I applaud Russia because of all things they did, with absoluetely no logic in their existance, cold, foodless, and empty. Russia is an example of how you are not listening to me, a country that is a GOOD example requires an economy that makes sense. Also you deny that people don’t care about the future. Because they DO they will vote properly for their officials and when the economy the major built in gaurenteeed expanse in the economy they will continue to do so. It is so simple, anything with more uncertainty, the more reliance on individuals (free market), the more risk involved and the harder it is to cater to the individual (person). Cut the risk -> raises efficiency ->better allotment of resources -> More wealth -> Happier public.

As for corrupt politicians I’ve catered my argument to that REPRESENTATIVE democracy, and communist infrastructure, checks and balances. If you pair that with transperency it is much more efficient. You seem to be confused of one fundamental point, a president who enstills a surplus in the budget can’t just go to the treasury and take all the money he “earned” no it would be property of the state.

It’s cool if you are ill informed about what you are talking about, but if you don’t know don’t pretend that you do.

Drew, when you finally wake up and come out of fantasy land of socialist fairy tales, you see in plain sight: capitalist, free countries are wealthy and communist countries are poor. People want OUT of communist/socialist countries. People want IN to free capitalists countries.

If you cant understand that, there is nothing anyone can do. You really are blinded by your emotions of jealousy and envy. Those emotions are the beginning to building a leftist socialist mentality that becomes ever more complex in the minds that are afflicted with such a collectivist vision. It’s very difficult to get one to open his eyes and learn about the nature of man and freedom. It can happen, but it takes a while. Here is a good video of a talk given by a former liberal explaining the differences he’s learned. Go to YouTube and search on “Evan Sayet, How Modern Liberals Think”

You know I really don’t want to keep going i’m still listening this thing 25 minutes in. And I don’t want to call out repub’s stupid but I can’t say that he isn’t dumb as a box of rocks, holy cow. This was the biggest brainwashing fictitious piece i’ve ever listened to. If you challenge everything you WILL find problems, when you find problems you will solve problems. AHHH back to controlling people’s life completely, I’m turning this off now I have to. Wow just incorrect brainwashing.

Listen it is as simple as this, being oblivious to developing your own thoughts and ideas and challenging authority life will never improve. The only one’s capable of leading are those who can find problems and solutions to those problems. The best people for that job are the unpatriotic. The intellegent leftists who won’t just take in garbage like this, without understanding that Israel started their conflict and we mindlessly give them weapons to kill their victims. That’s why there’s war, and disagreement in the world. its because we the people of the united states of america are a$$holes!

1) You dont like the Constitution 2) You actually believe socialism can work, it just hasnt been tried properly 3) You believe that business in general is inherently evil 4) Israel is the aggressor against the Arabs 5) America is the creator of war and disagreement 6) Discriminating against one group as being bad and the other not bad is wrong no matter what 7) Making judgements between right and wrong is not right

Then of course there is NO WAY you could understand what that former liberal was actually saying. But he defined you very well –> That to be open minded, you must close your mind to reason based on rational judgement of facts before you. It’s classic liberalism. His whole discussion can be proven correct by your last statement in your response: “That’s why there’s war, and disagreement in the world. its because we the people of the united states of america are a$$holes!” If you seriously believe that, the only way you can arrive at such a conclusion is to force yourself into such a twisted logic that you actually perceive evil doers as victims. That was the point of the video.

I gotta run. 5:00 on the east coast. Have a Happy Easter, Drew! Great chatting with you this week again.

1) I like the constitution, but don’t think it should halt progress 2) I don’t believe in socialism per say, spending wealth to produce none has to be balanced by policies or the 3) I believe it’s acceptable for businesses to be evil as long as they obey laws, and there are enough laws or regualtions to take care of the public. 4) Arabs and Muslims are synonomous. The jewish and islamic conflict has no righteous side, but America has took one, England did before that. We have no business escalated the situation unless we are trying to increase acceptance from both sides. 5) America is ONE OF THE advocates of war through greed and religious persecutions. 6) Discriminating against any group is wrong, but not setting things right is discriminating against other groups affected. The riches inequitible gain leads to the poors inequitible loss. 7) Making assessments between right and wrong is wrong. The will of the universal democracy is the closest we can come to, from what the public believes is best for us. Your vote my vote. But this should be educated of course.

As for the ending you are right. I don’t believe it’s twisted but that’s not what he claimed, he claims that I shut myself away from reason and then contradicted himself horribly, when explaining that we shouldn’t question things that are evil, but it isn’t apparent what is evil, REQUIRES reason accepting that followers of the most populated religion in the world requires no reason merely intolerance and ignorance.

You probably are the most obnoxious idiot I have seen in all the comments I’ve seen on the internet! Hiding behind a fictitious name is a sure sign of a coward and unintelligent backward individual whose hate, is far more controlling you then any kind of truth! You are most definitely a good candidate for a Republican supporter! You are the one who should leave my country!

You might have pointed out that Mr Romney earned most of the money he has (much of what he inherited he is said to have given away). Some people will, of course, point out that Bain Capital produced little, money aside, that is tangible.

Perhaps he should have spent time on the shop floor making automobiles than working exclusively in management.

He so desperately needs FDR’s ability to speak empathetically to and with the “common” man. One danger is that when Mr Romney removes the silver spoon from his mouth he’ll replace it with his foot.

As to Elsa, had she lived in a “communist” (actually “socialist”) country in the heyday of that system, she would have probably noticed that there were also three classes: upper classless, middle classless, and lower classless.

Elsa might also remember that there is nothing wrong with the lawful accumulation of wealth. It’s flaunting one’s wealth that shows a lack of breeding.

Finally Eleanore might want to ponder Thomas Powers’ take on two biographies of President Eisenhower that he reviewed in the 26 April issue of The New York Review of Books. The head reads: “He Got the Big Things Right.”

I’m not sure we may say that of President Obama now or at the end of his prospective second term. If he will do the same things over and over, he should not expect different results.

… the ‘lawful accumulation of wealth’ is not the same as ‘greed’ & ‘gouging’ of the Middle Class & working poor, or ‘bribery/intimidation’ thru campaign contributions/withholding thereof, which is what has taken place for the last 11 consecutive years. If tax cuts & related benefits are good enuff 4 them (the wealthy & corp’s), they’re good enuff for us ALL!!! We are the majority, after all & if we don’t deserve ‘preference’ then NO ONE in America does! Is that fair or do even I xpect too much of the ‘America’ described in the Constitution?!

My hope & prayer is that the final count this November, is that Romney will be retired to multiple extravagances, w/’thebozo’ for entertainment!!! There’s a good job 4 U!!! Me? I plan to B done w/Law school & hope for a great job serving the people of a great nation – in ALL its diversity!!! A vocation that more Americans should & DO aspire to. I love Liberal/Progressives for teaching me that!!!

so love that argument…where did you get it…it’s brilliant. Stops them commies cold every time…where are the commies anyway… I had to visit Cuba to find one. are they different from sociologists, fundamentalists, capitalistic, fantasist, fascism…… name calling…does a body good!

He isn’t even fooling them. They’re just so devoted to the party, devoted to hating Obama for whatever reason their pathetic little minds are capable of producing, that they’re willing to chant along with whatever nonsense the establishment instructs them to.

Romney is a serial liar who will soon pivot to the middle as soon as he gets the nomination. He probably doesn’t like teabaggers any better than most Americans. Unfortunately he can’t lie straight in bed.

And Obama is never caught in his own lies? Right. Oh unless you count his fake birth certificate…..according to officials in Hawaii, the facility where he says he was born, wasn’t referred to by that name until years after Obama was born. You’ve been duped and the main stream media is just letting this slide. No long form and no doctor named….because it’s forged.

It’s ironic, I think, that this is the man who is going to get their nomination. For four years, we had to listen to the Tea Partiers chanting about how they were going to throw everyone out and start fresh, how they were going to “stop big government” and bring integrity back to politics. . .

It’s impossible not to notice what the Republicans of the neoconservative breed are really after: 1. Big Businesses that pay NO taxes. 2. A total reduction in the taxes the 1% pay on their wealth. 3. Forcing the 99% to keep the wealth of the 1% constantly growing and on a daily basis. 4. Force government to make Big Business the only priority squeezing out the reality of the Constitutional rights of all American citizens.

At this point, the Republicans fondest desire is to create not a government but a Board of Directors (read smallest government possible) headed by an “appointed” CEO. These idiots will not stop until they get their way. Too bad this country isn’t all about THEIR way, isn’t it?

What they detest most about this president is the populist power he wields. And why not? When the GOP is consistently sticking it to the Middle Class? Who else should represent them? Who else should be the breath of common sense with such idiotic right wing radicals?

Eleanore…my thoughts exactly and you put it so succinctly…I would also add that the majority of these affronts to our President goes to racism…there are a great deal of people out here who hate that a black man is sitting in the White House…

It’s not even really a question of whether or not you believe this anymore; it’s whether or not you accept it or continue trying to ignore it.

What’s scary is that the Republicans aren’t even shy about this anymore; they pursue their agendas openly even as they are promising to the press to do the exact opposite.

This is the level to which the Tea Party has brought us. The G.O.P. saw millions of dumb angry Americans willing to chant whatever nonsense they could dream up about the Democrats, so now the Republicans think they are master manipulators who can say whatever they want and still have us believe it. They aren’t even TRYING to hide the fact that they’re fighting class warfare on behalf of the rich anymore.

Thanx EleanoreW. for a searing indictment of the last administration & those who support them. 1 thing we ALL fail 2 realize is that we’re on our own. We left the President to deal w/this on his own (those of us who didn’t vote in the ’10 mid-terms – I DID!!!… so my conscience is clear…). By not voting Liberal/Progressive, we destroy any chance of making OUR REPRESENTATIVES carry out OUR legislative will. Its unfair that so many Americans would hurt themselves b/c they hate seeing a Black man in the Oval office, or that he, like ALL Liberal/Progressives, is all about the benefits of diversity. As I said above, there’s no benefit to a Middle-Class voter voting Republican what so ever. It helps the rich tho… in keeping the Middle Class from even getting CLOSE to EVER being wealthy – Please think that over B4 going to the polls in November…

The attack on Social Securiity and Medicare is unwaranted since neither program created this massive debt. War and free trade are the reason for our debt – India and China can produce goods cheaper than the US by having no laws to protect their workers. If the US were to impose a tariff on any country that doesn’t have the same minimum wage as ours, then the playing field would be level!

Pay outs do not equal dept, you need to compare how much of the payouts are covered by the taxes collected for the programs. These programs are called entitlements because recepients pay into them for decades. Biggest unfunded costs are the two Bush wars while giving hugh tax cuts, most of which when to the top 1% of earners in this Country. It is time they start paying their fair share again.

The wanna bes who regurgitate the elitist framed dogma are sure helping them out. You think they give a s**t about you? Ha they could care less if you thrive. And so go ahead be my guest work for the super rich and lets give them a tax break they deserve by electing some Repug idiot. Obama is the best president we will ever have.

Anytime the republicans purpose anything it won’t be to help the American people. Always cutting the people’s services that are already paid for but when it comes to corporations [paying taxes or rich oil companies collecting taxpayer oil subsidies , oh no we can’t do that. These repugnants are shameless.All selling out the country and the American people.Wise up ,get educated .people. Didn’t you learn from criminal Bush and co?

this the first time i have read tthe national memo and I now realize where a lot of the liberal crap originates from. obama is bankrupting the country and catering to a growing welfare class that has no intention of ever working and the liberals think he is the best president ever. what a sorry lot the liberals/socialists have become.

Welcome aboard PSW! Nice to have you in here fighting the good fight with me in trying to bring some common sense to a sea of leftist insanity. I’ve been here a month or so battling it it. Keep up the good work. There’s not many of us, but our numbers are growing.

Obama: Tell the big lie. Tell it often. Some people will start to believe it. The President produced a counter budget for consideration. The verdict: the House rejected it 414-0, the Senate 97-0. Not a single vote even from his own party. And he has the audacity to criticize someone’s work! A budget that passed the House by a substantially bigger margin than the Affordable Health Care Act passed in the House. If you are upset with points from Ryan’s budget, how about comparing those on a point by point basis with Harry Reid’s Democrat budget. Oh!

Ryan’s response to Obama’s speech was absolutely worthless. How many times did Obama mention specific cuts and their impacts on Americans? Ryan couldn’t name a single positive item in his budget in response. I hate that the Republicans can only lie about the Obama presidency. They talk about gas prices doubling to over $4 during his presidency. What they don’t say is that gas was over $4 during the 2008 presidential campaign and it took the worst recession since the depression to drive prices to $2 a gallon. I don’t think anyone would trade another recession for $2 gasoline.

The true health of a society is how it treats its elderly and young. If anything shows that the Republican budget proposal is unhealthy just look at where the cuts are targeted, the elderly and young people. This is a radical attempt to end the government garantee of health care to seniors by making medicare a voucher program. What happen when a senior’s voucher is emptied? Who pays the future bills? Who pays if a senior is on a vent at $5000./day? Or an extended intensive care visit at the same price. The Republicans accused the Democrats of creating death panels and rationing health care. If this is not those 2 things I don’t know what is. When seniors out spend their voucher their care will be rationed and if they are near death there will be no medical intervention.

As for the cuts to the young, Headstart has been one of the most successful programs in offering pre school in lower income areas and probably provides breakfast to thousands of kids. They need a healthy meal to spark their brains, and for all those who rail against the poor this program is a way to help people emerge from poverty by giving kids a foundation to build on. I’m sure buried in there is a defunding of Planned Parenthood.

This budget will curtail other needed programs that we all depend on like FEMA for disaster relief, weather tracking and the EPA that is charged with protecting our air and water.

Where is is helpful is to the rich and super rich giving them once again another tax cut. Last time they got one just look at what Romney did with his money.He put it into off shore accounts in the Cayman islands, Switzerland and other venues. He didn’t create one job other than hand servant with his 250 million.The military is also increased even though we are winding down the war in Afganistan and are basically out of Iraq. This is really a gift to companies that produce weapon systems like Raytheon, Grumman, Lockeed and others, and also contribute heavely to Republican coffers. So we now have a clear choice. Reward the rich again or lift up everybody else.

The Democrats & Pres. Obama hadn’t passed a budget in over 3 years, as they are required to. They wait for the responsible members of Congress to pass a bill several times, then they attack it, without offering anything, “because”, they want to ram through more spending, taxing and debt. Obama has a lot of people fooled with the class-warfare rhetoric, when the Federal Government only has authority to run the necessary functions of the central government, the rest for the States & the People do decide. BO does not have dictatorial powers to do as he pleases, and to “give” people stuff to get re-elected. He seems to forget that this nation has checks & balances, to control the power of any branch of Federal government. Even Liberals can appreciate this, because it controls both ways. (even though BO hand-picked Supreme Court justices for the express purpose to legislate from the bench instead of just deciding the Constitutionality of any bill.)

PaulCindy.. you’re common sense approach is not welcome here! After all, dont you realize that Obozo is America’s messiah? He doesnt need “checks and balances”, he IS the checks and balances. All Hail Obozo, All Hail Obozo, All Hail Obozo!!!

This limited gov argument is stupid. We mine as well be 50 little nation. The truth is the gov can do anything they want they can add an amendment that says mandates are awesome and the supreme court is useless again. So blah blah blah, state governments don’t have the resources to progress society, and our so much more irreponsible then the fed!

Obama is a very slick talker and has a way of twisting things in such a way as to sound horrible. I just look at the people he has put into power in his cabinet and shake my head in wonder that few seem to see what he’s up to. I keep reading about the things being discovered regarding his qualifications and birth right to even be in the office he’s holding and am amazed that this hasn’t been splashed all over the media. His obvious attacks on Christianity and favoritism he shows towards Islam should be scaring the dickens out of that 80+% that claim to be Christians in this country. What about his attempts to control guns in this country and if not guns than the ammunition for them. Downsizing of our military to me is like cutting research and development in a high tech industry, it will mean our downfall as a nation. The only thing that many countries of this world understand and respect is power and might and I believe it is imperative that we remain strong militarily even though we might never have to use it. As a six year military veteran and a veteran of four campaigns in Vietnam I have seen first hand what politicians can do and how many lives they can cost and as long as it’s not their son or daughters they don’t seem to care. I feel that if Obama gets four more years as our President the damage will be so severe that we will never be able to recover. Think about it! Do you really want to give this man a chance to finish what he has begun regardless of who the Republicans nominate?

Obozo has eviscerated nothing. He’s just looking for distractions from his awful record, and the leftist nutjobs that write on this site are just doing his bidding like a good pack of useful idiots with computers. Here’s some of Obozo’s failures to ponder:

1) Obozo comes into office $9T in debt. 3 years later, $16T in debt 2) 2 years complete control of the government. NO budget as required by the Constitution. Still has no budget 3) A new bankrupting entitlement program called Obozocare jammed through congress against the vast majority of Americans who were against it (and still are) and with the blessings of the idiot Pelosi who said “we have to pass the bill before we know what is in it” 4) Persistent unemployment that has been the worst since the Great Depression, especially among blacks and young people. His administration keeps claiming unemployment is going down, but in reality, they manipulate the formula by reducing the # of jobs available. 5) Promises to close Gitmo…. instead, he spends $750K on a soccer field for terrorists. 6) Gas prices are up 100% across the nation. And Obozo is so dumb he actually believes that increasing supply has no effect on prices… what an idiot! 7) Real inflation rates are close to 8% or higher. Who measures inflation without food and fuel??????? Obozo does! 8) SOLYNDRA!!!!!!!! need I say more? 9) OK… I’ll say more… SOLAR TRUST – $2.3 BILLION taxpayer dollars flushed down the toilet to Obozo’s rich finance guys and campaign donors. Company just declared bankruptcy. 10) Fast and Furious!!!!! If this was a Republican Admin, all of you nutjobs that write on this web site would be going justifiably ballistic!! It would be the lead story on ABC, CBS, NBC, MSLSD, CNN, etc. etc.

I’ll continue to refocus the discussion on what is important and not these foolish smokescreens the left throws up to obfuscate Obozo’s true failure as a socialist in the White House.

In an editorial in “Time” magazine Rich Lowry, the Republican editor, described Romney as “inoffensive and non-threatening “and “not formidable” which makes him acceptable to voters. I’ve heard better plaudits for performing monkeys!

Have we seen President Obama’s plan and that of the Democrats laid out so we can compare them with Rep. Ryans’ or the Simpson-Bowles plans? If the Republicans’ plan is a “Trojan Horse,” the Democrats’ plan is an IED.

At least most thinking people can recognize a Trojan Horse when they see one, but who sees and IED until it’s too late?

Vazir… dont you get it? To the leftist nutjobs, facts are unimportant things. All that really matters is that Obozo is the messiah and that he gives such wonderful and soothing speeches that they all get tingles up their legs. Like actually governing is of any importance. Come, on. Get on the Obozo bandwagon. All Hail Obozo, All Hail Obozo, All Hail Obozo!

Most thinking people recognize the fact that Romney is NOT a republican. He is an Oligarchist. That’s what is so good about manipulation of the ignorant public….they have swooped down and are almost done with you, too. It’s the few Rich ruling the many poor and you, my friend, will NOT have enough $$, power, or position to belong to THE Oligarchist Party. Vote Obama for Democracy or Romney for Oligarchy.

I don’t know of an instance where the “trickle-down” theory has worked. Keynes has his place, but I prefer that both parties now try some Hayek or von Mises. That way each has to give up something.

You and I may disagree, but I believe both parties are now too doctrinaire. Ultimately it’s we the citizens who are the losers. So many of us have so little — money, needed skills, solid, though not necessarily a university, education, sense of civic duty and ambition. I place no blame, but report the situation as I see it. If what I perceive is correct, a discussion of why doesn’t belong here. Perhaps at another time, another place. . . .

Nancy Pelosi was on Charlie Rose a day or two ago. He asks probing questions, but she’s very good at giving dodgy answers.

Trickle down can work to an extent if there is a tangible exchange of money. Like buying racecars or 500,000,000 oranges and a popsicle. But that doesn’t happen, and it still isn’t equality anyways, why do they get a popsicle i earned one more than them!!! anywho the money just goes back in securities (stocks and bonds) to go back in to securities to make more, but what’s the point of having it all if your never going to enjoy it? Stupid rich

If Obama is on the up and up…..why would he spend millions of dollars keeping his college applications hidden? Open and transparent???? In what way? If one college admissions official is correct, he applied as a foreign student. Why would he do that? Just to get a break on his tuition? Maybe….but that means he willfully committed fraud. Or…he is in fact a non-citizen, and then we have an issue. Would you spend millions of dollars to hide information pertinent to you? Tell me why……..this stinks.

Even if you do not like President Obama, you lack what a lot of americans lack and that is respect.

I always respected a president even if I didn’t like their policies. A lot of Americans have no respect for one another and that my friend is a crash course waiting to happen. Love one another…great title for a song eh?

Yuh, your opinion does stink…like B.S….Totally unfounded – when will people give up on that B.S.? And, Romney? No Mexican family, eh? His grandfather RAN to Mexico to avoid being put in prison. His father was born in Mexico. Funny how he disassociates himself from his ancestry, eh? Wonder why?

Watchdog- please put a muzzle on it! College transcripts, birth certificates?? When will the right wing wack jobs get a clue! 3 years later and the bigots cant get over the fact the POTUS is a black man. ( lets call a spade a spade) We need to be requesting Romneys tax returns ( my guess he paid no taxes in 08, 09.)

All polititians will say what you want to hear to get elected, then do what their puppet masters paid for after they get elected I think President Obama has done this the least of all presidents and candidates in the last 12 years, and I think Romney will be the worst of them. Mitt doesn’t seem to have origional thought capability or a consistent opinion about anything.

President Obama is totaly right and 99.9% of the people realize this. Yahoo you re trying to make mistakes in my typing and i am sick of you I will let everyone know. You are trying to distort everything i type. You and the republicans are going down bad because of what you are doing.

It’s great to see the President call out Republicans/Tea Partiers on their rediculous, stupid, and economically dangerous policies. A vote for Romney will be a vote for social and economic disaster. Let’s work hard to clean out the House of these selfish Republican vermine and restore the legislative process to support “the common good” instead of the “good of the wealthiest”.

Americo is doomed regardless of which of the so called ‘leaders’ we’re being provided to choose from is elected! One will let the top 2% acquire the last 15% of the wealth in America….and the other will give the last 15% to illegals and their tribes of should be illegal kids in the form of SSN, medical benefits, food stamps, etc etc…Meanwhile, the ex middle class will finally be dead as the rich CxOs fulfill their bonus promises by exporting the few remaining decent jobs out of the country….

Of course you will never hear about solutions to any real problems from any of the POTUS candidates…they are too busy rehashing abortion, flag burning, gay lifestyle, gay marriage, gay rights (No, I’m not gay!).. and blaming the other guy(s) for bankrupting the country, when its quite clear BOTH parties are responsible in their own BS ways!!

Americo is doomed regardless of which of the so called ‘leaders’ we’re being provided to choose from is elected! One will let the top 2% acquire the last 15% of the wealth in America….and the other will give the last 15% to illegals and their tribes of should be illegal kids in the form of SSN, medical benefits, food stamps, etc etc…Meanwhile, the ex middle class will finally be dead as the rich CxOs fulfill their bonus promises by exporting the few remaining decent jobs out of the country….

Of course you will never hear about solutions to any real problems from any of the POTUS candidates…they are too busy rehashing abortion, flag burning, gay lifestyle, gay marriage, gay rights (No, I’m not gay!).. and blaming the other guy(s) for bankrupting the country, when its quite clear BOTH parties are responsible in their own BS ways!!

Mr. Ronald Hickey Sr. I enjoyed your words & fully agree with them 100%. I would like to take this opportunity to Thank You, Sir for giving of yourself to our fine country. I wish I were at liberty to use my real name but unfortunately I’ve already been offered a spanking for being ” sassy.” For safety I shall remain nameless & keep my friend Ol’ Betsy close at hand. Men like you are far & few between.

I believe if ‘party’ were so important to Dem’s, they would still have the majority in both House’s. Correctly however, the Prez, having a much keener insite than we about this sort of thing, understands that by beating up on old/enfirmed, women w/children & the poor, @the expense of comforting the rich, who are doing quite well already, is what is, quite plainly, INSANE! Of those who agree w/Ryan, how are billionaires? Millionaires? Earners of @least $500,000? My guess if few 2 none, if U’r being honest. So what difference does it make if the rich pay a fair proportion of their income, per its value? That’s what U & all of us here pay – w/a small caveat: we’re paying the ADDITIONAL AMOUNT that the rich & corporations have manipulated favor thru Congress to allow their 10 year delinquent tax bill – which is up to roughly $3 trillion – YES – THREE TRILLION – much of which has to be BORROWED by the way. If that makes sense, I totally understand why none of the rest of this makes sense to Conservative voters – OR the legislators (they confuse as ‘leaders’) they vote into offc…

it is no doubt that Romney and Ryan are extreme racist and they will fail gallantly.They hate the black man in the white house.Romney is not genuie and it is obvious he has no good plan for this contry other than the plan to lower taxes for the wealthy,a way to preserve his own wealth and theirs.The more I see Romney on TV,the more I feel this guy is just after moving his five sons and 15 grandkids to live in the white house before he dies.

I still don’t understand WHY So Many who vote for the GOP(group of pigs) do not see their true agenda. And I know Republican friends who still cry at the fact of paying for welfare etc., how it effects their taxes, blah, blah, blah…..but they don’t see how the GOP takes care of the ultra rich and could careless for the middle class. Some people are just plain ignorant when it comes to even understanding policies of the GOP….but they go out there spreading their ignorance as well….like the Tea Party has done.